Amberstone Biosciences Partners with Henlius for T-Cell Engagers in Solid Tumors

IRVINE, Calif., Sept. 24, 2026 /CourierPR/ -- Amberstone Biosciences, a preclinical-stage oncology company based in Irvine, California, has entered into a collaboration and license agreement with Shanghai Henlius Biotech, a commercial-stage biopharmaceutical company. The agreement aims to develop conditionally activated T-cell engagers (TCEs) for treating solid tumors.

Under the terms of the agreement, Amberstone will leverage its proprietary T-MATE™ (Tumor Microenvironment Activated Therapeutics) platform technology to generate preclinical candidates against up to two targets selected by Henlius. Henlius will lead the subsequent research, development, manufacturing, and commercialization activities worldwide.

T-cell engagers are designed to redirect a patient's T cells to kill cancer cells. However, their development in solid tumors has been constrained by issues such as cytokine release syndrome and on-target, off-tumor toxicity. T-MATE technology addresses these limitations through reversible pH gating, which reduces T-cell activation in the circulation and healthy tissues while maintaining therapeutic activity across a broad range of pH conditions found in solid tumors.

Preclinical studies have demonstrated potent tumor-cell killing under tumor-like pH conditions with markedly reduced activity at physiological pH. Amberstone's self-developed lead T-MATE TCE asset is expected to enter clinical development in the first half of 2027.

Amberstone will receive an upfront payment and research funding under the agreement. The company is also eligible to receive up to US$440 million in potential development, regulatory, and sales milestones for each target, plus tiered royalties on net sales.

Shanghai Henlius Biotech, founded in 2010, is a global, innovation-driven biopharmaceutical company committed to delivering high-quality, affordable biologic therapies to patients worldwide. Henlius has established an integrated platform spanning R&D, clinical operations, regulatory affairs, manufacturing, and commercialization. To date, 10 Henlius products have received regulatory approvals across more than 60 countries and regions, including four products approved by the U.S. FDA and five by the European Commission. Henlius is advancing more than 50 early-stage innovative assets across immune checkpoint inhibitors, antibody-drug conjugates, and AI-enabled discovery programs, with more than 50 clinical trials ongoing globally.